More of these can be found on the Thinkexist.com website
“If any of you should ask me for an epitome of the Christian religion, I should say that it is in one word- Prayer. Live and die without prayer, and you will pray long enough when you get to hell.”
“Fiery trials make golden Christians”
“Every generation needs regeneration”
“Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.”
“A man who does nothing never has time to do anything”
“Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of; they just turn up some of the ill weeds on to the surface.”
“Of two evils, choose neither”
“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.”
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Tim Keller talks about Belief in God at Authors@Google
A really good framework for how we construct our beliefs:
The Sufficiency of the Gospel in a PostModern World
Tim Keller on the “Alpha Program” and other once-successful evangelistic programs that churches adopt in order to reach those in their communities with the Gospel:
“I’ve seen this a million times with churches that just sort of try to take the Alpha Program or some other ‘magic bullet’: they raise the money, they train the people, they roll out the program, they’re just trying to ‘graft on’ to the side of their existing ministry an evangelism program hoping that somehow that’s going to help them win poor people—and it won’t work anymore. ‘The demon’s in too deep’.
There’s going to have to be a complete transformation of our personality, our theology and our community by the Gospel. The Gospel has to re-capture us and we have to re-capture the Gospel or evangelism will not work anymore. We won’t be able to do any kind of evangelism anymore. ‘The demon’s in too deep’.”
Listen -- Download Audio Track (right-click; save target as)
“I’ve seen this a million times with churches that just sort of try to take the Alpha Program or some other ‘magic bullet’: they raise the money, they train the people, they roll out the program, they’re just trying to ‘graft on’ to the side of their existing ministry an evangelism program hoping that somehow that’s going to help them win poor people—and it won’t work anymore. ‘The demon’s in too deep’.
There’s going to have to be a complete transformation of our personality, our theology and our community by the Gospel. The Gospel has to re-capture us and we have to re-capture the Gospel or evangelism will not work anymore. We won’t be able to do any kind of evangelism anymore. ‘The demon’s in too deep’.”
Listen -- Download Audio Track (right-click; save target as)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Doing Justice
speaker: Timothy Keller
Listen - Download Audio Track (right-click; save target as)
As quoted from theResurgence.com website:
In session 8 with our keynote speaker Dr. Tim Keller, senior pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, New York and founder of Redeemer Church Planting Center, preaches on, "Doing Justice" his last session of three from the Reform & Resurge Conference May 2006. The audio that you are about to listen to from Dr. Keller will challenge your view of the comprehensive work of the gospel. Four questions are fleshed out in this session. First, what is justice according to the Bible? Second, what is doing justice according to the Bible? Thirdly, who should be doing justice? Lastly, how can you be one of the people that does justice? These questions and a walk through the book of Proverbs will develop a biblically faithful approach to justice. The Biblical view of justice is counter to that of what we see in Western society. This mp3 from Dr. Tim Keller will stretch and hopefully encourage you to do justice not out of guilt but out of joy. Through faithfulness in doing justice the culture will begin to notice and hear the gospel that you preach.
Listen - Download Audio Track (right-click; save target as)
As quoted from theResurgence.com website:
In session 8 with our keynote speaker Dr. Tim Keller, senior pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, New York and founder of Redeemer Church Planting Center, preaches on, "Doing Justice" his last session of three from the Reform & Resurge Conference May 2006. The audio that you are about to listen to from Dr. Keller will challenge your view of the comprehensive work of the gospel. Four questions are fleshed out in this session. First, what is justice according to the Bible? Second, what is doing justice according to the Bible? Thirdly, who should be doing justice? Lastly, how can you be one of the people that does justice? These questions and a walk through the book of Proverbs will develop a biblically faithful approach to justice. The Biblical view of justice is counter to that of what we see in Western society. This mp3 from Dr. Tim Keller will stretch and hopefully encourage you to do justice not out of guilt but out of joy. Through faithfulness in doing justice the culture will begin to notice and hear the gospel that you preach.
Preaching the Gospel
speaker: Timothy Keller
Listen - Download Audio Track (right-click; save target as)
Listen - Download Audio Track (right-click; save target as)
As Quoted from theResurgence.com website:
Dr. Tim Keller, senior pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, New York and founder of Redeemer Church Planting Center, speaks on, "Preaching the Gospel" in his second of three sessions (session 7) from the Reform & Resurge Conference May 2006. Listen now to this audio from Dr. Keller as he gives some insightful comments on preaching the gospel today. What is discovered is that the older evangelicals know how to preach the gospel of sovereign grace in salvation and the younger evangelicals preach the gospel of salvation as a means for a new heavens and new earth. Dr. Keller notes that there are not many movements today that combine these two ways to preach the gospel as both the building of God's Kingdom through people being redeemed by the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. What needs to be realized is that every theme and/or thread points to Jesus. This also includes the building of the Kingdom of God and personal salvation. More importantly Dr. Keller gives great advice at preaching the gospel in getting to the roots of idolatry and selfishness rather than just the slap on the hand for doing wrong. Preaching the gospel in a manner that glorifies Jesus rather than us is key aspect for the church today and this mp3 from Tim Keller should push the church in that direction.
Gospel-Centered Ministry
speaker: Tim Keller
Listen - Download Audio Track (right-click; save target as)
Listen to this audio from the Gospel Coalition, as Tim Keller from Redeemer Presbyterian in New York talks about what ministry shaped by the gospel looks like. In this mp3, Dr. Keller fleshes out seven significant features of the gospel and how to use those features to make ministry effective.
Listen - Download Audio Track (right-click; save target as)
Listen to this audio from the Gospel Coalition, as Tim Keller from Redeemer Presbyterian in New York talks about what ministry shaped by the gospel looks like. In this mp3, Dr. Keller fleshes out seven significant features of the gospel and how to use those features to make ministry effective.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Evangelistic Worship
by Dr. Tim Keller
THE WORSHIP WARS
One of the basic features of church life in the U.S. today is the proliferation of worship and music forms. This in turn has caused many severe conflicts both within individual congregations and whole denominations. Most books and articles about recent worship trends tend to fall into one of two broad categories."Contemporary Worship" (hereafter CW) advocates often make rather sweeping statements, such as "pipe organs and choirs will never reach people today." "Historic Worship" (hereafter HW) advocates often speak similarly about how incorrigibly corrupt popular music and culture is, and how they make contemporary worship completely unacceptable.
Read More...
THE WORSHIP WARS
One of the basic features of church life in the U.S. today is the proliferation of worship and music forms. This in turn has caused many severe conflicts both within individual congregations and whole denominations. Most books and articles about recent worship trends tend to fall into one of two broad categories."Contemporary Worship" (hereafter CW) advocates often make rather sweeping statements, such as "pipe organs and choirs will never reach people today." "Historic Worship" (hereafter HW) advocates often speak similarly about how incorrigibly corrupt popular music and culture is, and how they make contemporary worship completely unacceptable.
Read More...
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Excerpts of "Lectures to my Students" by C.H. Spurgeon
From Chapter XII: The Minister's Ordinary Conversation
Pg. 167-168
“Still, a minister, wherever he is, is a minister, and should recollect that he is on duty. A policeman or a soldier may be off duty, but a minister never is. Even in our recreations we should still pursue the great object of our lives; for we are called to be diligent “in season and out of season.” There is no position in which we may be placed but the Lord may come with the question, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” and we ought to be able at once to answer, “I have something to do for thee even here, and I am trying to do it.” The bow, of course, must be at times unstrung, or else it will lose its elasticity; but there is no need to cut the string. I am speaking at this time of the minister in times of relaxation; and I say that even then he should conduct himself as the ambassador of God, and seize opportunities of doing good: this will not mar his rest, but sanctify it. A minister should be like a certain chamber which I saw a Beaulieu, in the New Forest, in which a cobweb is never seen. It is a large lumber-room, and is never swept; yet no spider ever defiles it with the emblems of neglect. It is roofed with chestnut, and for some reason, I know not what, spiders will not come near that wood by the year together. The same thing was mentioned to me in the corridors of Winchester School: I was told, “No spiders ever come here.” Our minds should be equally clear of idle habits.
Pg. 168
“On our public rests for porters in the City of London you may read the words, “Rest, but do not loiter”; and they contain advice worthy of our attention. I do not call the dolce far niente laziness; there is a sweet doing of nothing which is just the finest medicine in the world for a jaded mind. When the mind gets fatigued and out of order, to rest it is no more idleness than sleep is idleness; and no man is called lazy for sleeping the proper time. It is far better to be industriously asleep than lazily awake. Be ready to do good even in your resting times and in your leisure hours; and so be really a minister, and there will be no need for you to proclaim that you are so.
Pg. 168
“The Christian minister out of the pulpit should be a sociable man. He is not sent into the world to be a hermit, or a monk of La Trappe. It is not his vocation to stand on a pillar all day, above his fellowmen, like that hare-brained Simon Stylites of olden time. You are not to warble from the top of a tree, like an invisible nightingale; but to be a man among men, saying to them, “I also am as you are in all that relates to man.” Salt is of no use in the box; it must be rubbed into the meat; and our personal influence must penetrate and season society. Keep aloof from others, and how can you benefit them? Our Master went to a wedding, and ate bread with publicans and sinners, and yet was far more pure than those sanctimonious Pharisees, whose glory was that they were separate from their fellowmen. Some ministers need to be told that they are of the same species as their hearers. It is a remarkable fact, but we may as well state it, that bishops, canons, archdeacons, prebendaries, rural deans, rectors, vicars and even archbishops, are only men after all; and God has not railed off a holy corner of the earth to serve as a chancel for them to abide therein by themselves.
“It would not be amiss if there could be a revival of holy talk in the churchyard and the meeting-yard. I like to see the big yew-trees outside our ancient churches with seats all round them. They seem to say: “Sit down here, neighbour, and talk aupon the sermon; here comes the pastor; he will join us, and we shall have a pleasant, holy chat.” It is not every preacher we would care to talk with; but there are some whom one would give a fortune to converse with for an hour. I love a minister whose face invites me to make him my friend—a man upon whose doorstep you read, “Salve,” “Welcome”; and feel that there is no need of that Pompeian warning, “Cave Canem,” “Beware of the dog.” Give me the man around whom the children come, like flies around a honey-pot: they are first-class judges of a good man. When Soloman was tried by the Queen of Sheba, as to his wisdom, the rabbies tell us that she brought some artificial flowers with her, beautifully made and delicately scented, so as to be facsimiles of real flowers. She asked Solomon to discover which were artificial and which were real. The wise man bade his servants open the window, and when the bees come in they flew at once to the natural flowers, and cared nothing for the artificial. So you will find that children have their instincts, and discover very speedily who is their friend, and depend upon it the children’s friend is the one who will be worth knowing. Have a good word to say to each and every member of the family—the big boys, and the young ladies, and the little girls, and everybody. No one knows what a smile and a hearty sentence may do. A man who is to do much with men must love them, and feel at home with them. An individual who has no geniality about him had better be an undertaker, and bury the dead, for he will never succeed in influencing the living. I have met somewhere with the observation nthat to be a popular preacher one must have bowels. I fear that the observation was meant as a mild criticism upon the bulk to which certain brethren have attained: but there is truth in it. A man must have a great heart if he would have a great congregation. His heart should be as capacious as those noble harbours along our coast, which contain se-room for a fleet. When a man has a large, loving heart, men go to him as ships to a haven, and feel at peace when they have anchored under the lee of this friendship. Such a man is hearty in private as well as in public; his blood is not cold and fishy, but he is warm as your own fireside. No pride and selfishness chill you when you approach him; he has his doors all open to receive you, and you are at home with him at once. Such men I would persuade you to be, every one of you.
Pg. 167-168
“Still, a minister, wherever he is, is a minister, and should recollect that he is on duty. A policeman or a soldier may be off duty, but a minister never is. Even in our recreations we should still pursue the great object of our lives; for we are called to be diligent “in season and out of season.” There is no position in which we may be placed but the Lord may come with the question, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” and we ought to be able at once to answer, “I have something to do for thee even here, and I am trying to do it.” The bow, of course, must be at times unstrung, or else it will lose its elasticity; but there is no need to cut the string. I am speaking at this time of the minister in times of relaxation; and I say that even then he should conduct himself as the ambassador of God, and seize opportunities of doing good: this will not mar his rest, but sanctify it. A minister should be like a certain chamber which I saw a Beaulieu, in the New Forest, in which a cobweb is never seen. It is a large lumber-room, and is never swept; yet no spider ever defiles it with the emblems of neglect. It is roofed with chestnut, and for some reason, I know not what, spiders will not come near that wood by the year together. The same thing was mentioned to me in the corridors of Winchester School: I was told, “No spiders ever come here.” Our minds should be equally clear of idle habits.
Pg. 168
“On our public rests for porters in the City of London you may read the words, “Rest, but do not loiter”; and they contain advice worthy of our attention. I do not call the dolce far niente laziness; there is a sweet doing of nothing which is just the finest medicine in the world for a jaded mind. When the mind gets fatigued and out of order, to rest it is no more idleness than sleep is idleness; and no man is called lazy for sleeping the proper time. It is far better to be industriously asleep than lazily awake. Be ready to do good even in your resting times and in your leisure hours; and so be really a minister, and there will be no need for you to proclaim that you are so.
Pg. 168
“The Christian minister out of the pulpit should be a sociable man. He is not sent into the world to be a hermit, or a monk of La Trappe. It is not his vocation to stand on a pillar all day, above his fellowmen, like that hare-brained Simon Stylites of olden time. You are not to warble from the top of a tree, like an invisible nightingale; but to be a man among men, saying to them, “I also am as you are in all that relates to man.” Salt is of no use in the box; it must be rubbed into the meat; and our personal influence must penetrate and season society. Keep aloof from others, and how can you benefit them? Our Master went to a wedding, and ate bread with publicans and sinners, and yet was far more pure than those sanctimonious Pharisees, whose glory was that they were separate from their fellowmen. Some ministers need to be told that they are of the same species as their hearers. It is a remarkable fact, but we may as well state it, that bishops, canons, archdeacons, prebendaries, rural deans, rectors, vicars and even archbishops, are only men after all; and God has not railed off a holy corner of the earth to serve as a chancel for them to abide therein by themselves.
“It would not be amiss if there could be a revival of holy talk in the churchyard and the meeting-yard. I like to see the big yew-trees outside our ancient churches with seats all round them. They seem to say: “Sit down here, neighbour, and talk aupon the sermon; here comes the pastor; he will join us, and we shall have a pleasant, holy chat.” It is not every preacher we would care to talk with; but there are some whom one would give a fortune to converse with for an hour. I love a minister whose face invites me to make him my friend—a man upon whose doorstep you read, “Salve,” “Welcome”; and feel that there is no need of that Pompeian warning, “Cave Canem,” “Beware of the dog.” Give me the man around whom the children come, like flies around a honey-pot: they are first-class judges of a good man. When Soloman was tried by the Queen of Sheba, as to his wisdom, the rabbies tell us that she brought some artificial flowers with her, beautifully made and delicately scented, so as to be facsimiles of real flowers. She asked Solomon to discover which were artificial and which were real. The wise man bade his servants open the window, and when the bees come in they flew at once to the natural flowers, and cared nothing for the artificial. So you will find that children have their instincts, and discover very speedily who is their friend, and depend upon it the children’s friend is the one who will be worth knowing. Have a good word to say to each and every member of the family—the big boys, and the young ladies, and the little girls, and everybody. No one knows what a smile and a hearty sentence may do. A man who is to do much with men must love them, and feel at home with them. An individual who has no geniality about him had better be an undertaker, and bury the dead, for he will never succeed in influencing the living. I have met somewhere with the observation nthat to be a popular preacher one must have bowels. I fear that the observation was meant as a mild criticism upon the bulk to which certain brethren have attained: but there is truth in it. A man must have a great heart if he would have a great congregation. His heart should be as capacious as those noble harbours along our coast, which contain se-room for a fleet. When a man has a large, loving heart, men go to him as ships to a haven, and feel at peace when they have anchored under the lee of this friendship. Such a man is hearty in private as well as in public; his blood is not cold and fishy, but he is warm as your own fireside. No pride and selfishness chill you when you approach him; he has his doors all open to receive you, and you are at home with him at once. Such men I would persuade you to be, every one of you.
About the Author
Hi,
My name is Joel Conrad. Before I jump into the purpose of this blog, let me give you a bit of background info about me. As of today, July 20, 2008, I am a 25 year-old husband of the beautiful Kerry Conrad and father of the incredible Cameron Conrad (almost 2 years old). During the week, I work in the fund-accounting world (valuing mutual funds) for a company called State Street. That's what I do for living, and I try to spend the rest of the timedoing some or all of the following:
a.) Growing in knowledge/relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit (a.k.a. the Trinitarian God), which often involves praying/talking to God, reading (and hopefully understanding) the Bible, listening to sermons, reading theological books, and talking about Him with other people;
b.) Being a "godly" husband and a good father, which usually requires that I spend time with my wife and son;
c.) Spending time/ growing in relationships with people in our church (I attend Heartland Church in Blue Springs);
d.) Staying alive and fit (a.k.a. "Taking care of my temple"). I am so thankful that God gave me legs and the ability to run-- it is such a blessing, one that I'm trying not to take for granted. I run daily and occasionally compete in various races;
e.) Playing guitar and singing in various bands in our church.
These activities encompass my "plate", for the most part. Feel free to email any time at joelconrad@gmail.com
My name is Joel Conrad. Before I jump into the purpose of this blog, let me give you a bit of background info about me. As of today, July 20, 2008, I am a 25 year-old husband of the beautiful Kerry Conrad and father of the incredible Cameron Conrad (almost 2 years old). During the week, I work in the fund-accounting world (valuing mutual funds) for a company called State Street. That's what I do for living, and I try to spend the rest of the timedoing some or all of the following:
a.) Growing in knowledge/relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit (a.k.a. the Trinitarian God), which often involves praying/talking to God, reading (and hopefully understanding) the Bible, listening to sermons, reading theological books, and talking about Him with other people;
b.) Being a "godly" husband and a good father, which usually requires that I spend time with my wife and son;
c.) Spending time/ growing in relationships with people in our church (I attend Heartland Church in Blue Springs);
d.) Staying alive and fit (a.k.a. "Taking care of my temple"). I am so thankful that God gave me legs and the ability to run-- it is such a blessing, one that I'm trying not to take for granted. I run daily and occasionally compete in various races;
e.) Playing guitar and singing in various bands in our church.
These activities encompass my "plate", for the most part. Feel free to email any time at joelconrad@gmail.com
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Pain and Progress
From the 3/18/2007 sermon by Mark Driscoll on Nehemiah 4:1-4.
Download Audio
Reflections:
It is an important truth-- you can't have progress without pain. They go hand-in-hand.
Download Audio
Reflections:
It is an important truth-- you can't have progress without pain. They go hand-in-hand.
Monday, July 14, 2008
C.H. Spurgeon - Lectures to My Students
The audio reading for the first chapter "The Minister's Self Watch" is outstanding, especially for those called to preaching (this does not include me, but I still benefitted much from various sections).
-- Download "The Minister's Self Watch" at Sermon Audio
-- Check out the entire book at the Google Library
-- Download "The Minister's Self Watch" at Sermon Audio
-- Check out the entire book at the Google Library
How to Experience Joy
(This series is currently in progress, but I will try to post additional sermons as they come:)
Title: How to Experience Joy
Scripture: Book of Philippians
Speaker:Tim Buzan
Preached Heartland Church
Part 1 - Philippians - 6/8/2008 - Duration: 52:59 - Download
Part 2 - Phil. 1:1-11 - 6/16/2008 - Duration: 52:59 - Download
Part 3 - Phil. 1 - 6/22/2008 - "Experiencing Joy in the midst of Problems" - Duration: 45:24 - Download
Part 4 - Phil. 1 - 6/29/2008 - "Experiencing Joy in the midst of Problems" - Duration: 54:08 - Download
Part 5 - Phil. 1 - 7/6/2008 - "Are You Better Than God? (Well, are you??!)" - Duration: 49:37 - Download
Title: How to Experience Joy
Scripture: Book of Philippians
Speaker:Tim Buzan
Preached Heartland Church
Part 1 - Philippians - 6/8/2008 - Duration: 52:59 - Download
Part 2 - Phil. 1:1-11 - 6/16/2008 - Duration: 52:59 - Download
Part 3 - Phil. 1 - 6/22/2008 - "Experiencing Joy in the midst of Problems" - Duration: 45:24 - Download
Part 4 - Phil. 1 - 6/29/2008 - "Experiencing Joy in the midst of Problems" - Duration: 54:08 - Download
Part 5 - Phil. 1 - 7/6/2008 - "Are You Better Than God? (Well, are you??!)" - Duration: 49:37 - Download
Emergent Church
The Emerging Church
Speaker : Mark Driscoll, 9/21/2007 - 1 hr. 21 min.
From the Convergent Conference, Session 3
Listen Now - Download MP3
Speaker : Mark Driscoll, 9/21/2007 - 1 hr. 21 min.
From the Convergent Conference, Session 3
Listen Now - Download MP3
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Nightline - National Response Debate w/ Kurt Cameron and Ray Comfort
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15 (Ray's Closing Remarks)
Part 16 (Brian's Closing Remarks)
Part 17 (Kirk's Closing Remarks)
Part 18 (Kelly's Closing Remarks)
Same thing, as seen on Nightline:
PART II: NightLine Debate- Does God Exist? (1 of 5)
PART II: NightLine Debate- Does God Exist? (2 of 5)
PART II: NightLine Debate- Does God Exist? (3 of 5)
PART II: NightLine Debate- Does God Exist? (4 of 5)
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15 (Ray's Closing Remarks)
Part 16 (Brian's Closing Remarks)
Part 17 (Kirk's Closing Remarks)
Part 18 (Kelly's Closing Remarks)
Same thing, as seen on Nightline:
PART II: NightLine Debate- Does God Exist? (1 of 5)
PART II: NightLine Debate- Does God Exist? (2 of 5)
PART II: NightLine Debate- Does God Exist? (3 of 5)
PART II: NightLine Debate- Does God Exist? (4 of 5)
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